Disney itself is no stranger to gaming, publishing everything from Warren Spector's Epic Mickey to mobile puzzler Where's My Water through its Disney Interactive label. Could the company put those same gaming resources toward reviving Star Wars gaming franchises like Dark Forces or the X-Wing games, or even the more recent Star Wars Battlefront?

Not so fast. In a conference call following the announcement, Disney CEO Bob Iger noted that the company is "likely to focus more on social and mobile than we are on console," as far as Star Wars-based games go. "We'll look opportunistically at console, most likely in licensing rather than publishing, but we think that given the nature of these characters and how well-known they are, and the storytelling... they lend themselves quite nicely—as they've already demonstrated—to the other platforms."

That bit about "social and mobile" may seem disheartening to fans of Star Wars strategy and shooter games, but there's reason not to get too gloomy. Iger specifically left the door open for licensing the property to other companies for other platforms, a situation that really wouldn't be a huge change from how the company has handled its Star Wars titles of late.

Internal development has been of diminishing importance at LucasArts in recent years, and the company has slowly downsized in waves from a bloated, 500-person staff since the middle of last decade. The result has been a bevy of recent Star Wars games developed outside of LucasArts itself: from Bioware-developed MMO The Old Republic to Traveller's Tales' Lego Star Wars to Terminal Reality's Kinect Star Wars to Pandemic's Star Wars: Battlefront series. Disney seems likely to continue this trend, licensing its properties to interested developers rather than developing itself, and maybe even taking a further hands-off approach by pawning off publishing duties to other companies (EA seems a likely candidate, having published The Old Republic recently).

LucasArts' only announced internal project currently in development is Star Wars 1313, an ambitious cinematic action game the studio premiered at this year's E3. A LucasArts spokesperson said the Disney acquisition shouldn't affect that game's development. "For the time being all projects are business as usual," he said. "We are excited about all the possibilities that Disney brings."

Of course, LucasArts means more than Star Wars games, especially to a certain generation of gamer who grew up with the company's well-loved original adventure titles. LucasArts showed its willingness to dip into that well recently, with 2009's Telltale-developed Tales of Monkey Island reboot and HD re-releases of the first two Monkey Island games for consoles and mobile devices. Will Disney continue the trend by putting its resources into revivals of other adventure classics like Maniac Mansion, Grim Fandango, or The Dig?

There's reason to doubt it. Consider that, in the aforementioned conference call, Disney said, "we didn't ascribe any value to Indiana Jones as part of the valuation of this deal." That partly has to do with some confusing rights issues with Paramount Pictures, but also shows just how focused Disney is on Star Wars as the most important part of the Lucasfilm catalog. If a major film franchise like Indiana Jones isn't getting attention from Disney in the wake of the buyout, a collection of relatively niche, decades-old adventures games stand even less of a chance at making an impact in the company's halls. (Disney and LucasArts have yet to respond to a request for comment on the matter.)

Unfortunately, LucasArts' classic game catalog is even more likely to be seen as a drop-in-the-bucket for a major international conglomerate like Disney than it was for a struggling independent publishing house like LucasArts. Disney will more than likely continue to sit on these properties, treating them with the same kind of benign neglect fans have been used to for decades, sometimes to the chagrin of their creators. "Dear Disney: I would like to buy the IP for a game I created called Monkey Island from you," series progenitor Ron Gilbert cheekily tweeted yesterday. "P.S. I have no money."

Maybe if someone else with deep pockets comes along and expresses interest, Disney would be willing to make some quick cash licensing these neglected properties elsewhere. But at least one of LucasArts' classic game creators seems more interested in letting his older properties stay as pleasant memories. "In all seriousness, though, who gives a damn about old ideas? Mine, George's, Walt's, anybody's?" Grim Fandango creator Tim Schafer tweeted. "New ideas are being created every day. The best entertainment news we could ever hear would be some rich person just bought every IP, forbidding anyone from using them."

Kyle!!! No mention of The Force Unleashed?! Mostly given moderate scores by the videogaming press, I found it to be an immensely fun game with solid gameplay and one of the best lightsaber-wielding, Jedi-force powers experiences ever in a videogame. I haven't played the sequel.

For the scope and gameplay mechanics, I think it was one of LucasArts best developed games.

I would love to see a first-person RPG/action hybrid a la Skyrim in the Star Wars universe. Doubt Disney would bank for that.

Kyle!!! No mention of The Force Unleashed?! Mostly given moderate scores by the videogaming press, I found it to be an immensely fun game with solid gameplay and one of the best lightsaber-wielding, Jedi-force powers experiences ever in a videogame.

Did you get to the star destroyer scene? Still think it was a fun game?

Quote:

I haven't played the sequel.

Good for you, you're one of the lucky ones.

Quote:

I would love to see a first-person RPG/action hybrid a la Skyrim in the Star Wars universe. Doubt Disney would bank for that.

I would love to see a new released version of Grim Fandango. It has been years. I never had the chance to play Monkey Island though. If they want to refresh it with a release on PC with an iOS/Android option, then I am all for that.

I imagine they are being a little cautious for more full scale projects given the mediocre responce that SWTOR has (man I wish it really took off). I would like a proper Star Wars game though, not just a game skinned with Star Wars characters (I remember playing battlefield equivalent and its RTS equivalent). They were still fun to play but I always wanted something...fresher.

Ultimate space combat sim anyone? New Rogue Squadron?

I have said it before, I will say it again. We really really need to show Indiana Jones some love. He needs an epic game, a continuing of the saga, some kind of 5th movie that doesnt have Shia Lebeuff. Indiana Jones cannot be allowed to have its twilight with that 4th movie. It just can't.

Just release the adventure games on steam with support and compatibility with modern rigs and I'd be happy with that. As cool as it would be to get a modern TIE Fighter I don't think anyone can do justice to the space sim genre anymore.

That's amusing, because even a re-release of Grim Fandango would likely fetch pretty great sales. It's been right near top of the GOG community wishlist pretty much since the site launched in 2008. The game itself was released a decade earlier.

I hate to disagree with Shafer, but quite a few other LucasArts titles fill the top of that list too, suggesting that PC gamers are clamoring to buy them again if a licensing deal could be struck.

I'm frankly shocked that they don't consider Indiana Jones to be worth anything; while yes, I understand that they have limited rights, I have a hard time believing that a deal couldn't be worked out. Not that I actually want to see more movies, but games? He's ripe for them.

I have to admit in my eyes the real tragedy here, though, is more Star Wars movies; I felt like the prequel trilogy was a mistake, and adding a sequel trilogy is unlikely to go any better. Then again, I have never felt the obsession of Star Wars fans in the first place, so what do I know? I'm sure they'll make money, but then, so did Transformers 2.

That's amusing, because even a re-release of Grim Fandango would likely fetch pretty great sales. It's been right near top of the GOG community wishlist pretty much since the site launched in 2008. The game itself was released a decade earlier.

I hate to disagree with Shafer, but quite a few other LucasArts titles fill the top of that list too, suggesting that PC gamers are clamoring to buy them again if a licensing deal could be struck.

Kyle!!! No mention of The Force Unleashed?! Mostly given moderate scores by the videogaming press, I found it to be an immensely fun game with solid gameplay and one of the best lightsaber-wielding, Jedi-force powers experiences ever in a videogame.

Did you get to the star destroyer scene? Still think it was a fun game?

Quote:

I haven't played the sequel.

Good for you, you're one of the lucky ones.

Quote:

I would love to see a first-person RPG/action hybrid a la Skyrim in the Star Wars universe. Doubt Disney would bank for that.

Isn't that called Mass Effect?

The star destroyer scene (in the PC version at least) was the most irritating thing ever. Once I gave up, looked it up online, figured out the 'bug' it took one more go and I was done. It did really cast a shadow on my enjoyment going forward then.

I'm frankly shocked that they don't consider Indiana Jones to be worth anything; while yes, I understand that they have limited rights, I have a hard time believing that a deal couldn't be worked out. Not that I actually want to see more movies, but games? He's ripe for them.

I have to admit in my eyes the real tragedy here, though, is more Star Wars movies; I felt like the prequel trilogy was a mistake, and adding a sequel trilogy is unlikely to go any better. Then again, I have never felt the obsession of Star Wars fans in the first place, so what do I know? I'm sure they'll make money, but then, so did Transformers 2.

Unlike Star Wars, the success of that franchise has really been tied to Harrison Ford. He's more than likely never doing another of those movies again. You can do a Star Wars movie without Luke, Leia, Han and Chewie, but you really can't do a Indiana Jones movie without .... Indiana Jones.

technically they never bought Winnie the Pooh. They have been licensing it since 1961 and taking home 98% of all profits, but a court ruled that as of September 2009, Disney owns all rights and trademarks. Series of weird deals and lawsuits brought all that about. For many of us (I was born in '76, 15 years after the original licensing) Winnie the Pooh has always effectively been a Disney property.

I just want a modern remake of Tie Fighter. Although part of it is definitely a nostalgia factor, I doubt we will ever see a new flight sim from them any time soon. Hell as a genre, its already life support. Hopefully world of warplanes will stir some more widespread interest.

I'm frankly shocked that they don't consider Indiana Jones to be worth anything; while yes, I understand that they have limited rights, I have a hard time believing that a deal couldn't be worked out. Not that I actually want to see more movies, but games? He's ripe for them.

I have to admit in my eyes the real tragedy here, though, is more Star Wars movies; I felt like the prequel trilogy was a mistake, and adding a sequel trilogy is unlikely to go any better. Then again, I have never felt the obsession of Star Wars fans in the first place, so what do I know? I'm sure they'll make money, but then, so did Transformers 2.

Unlike Star Wars, the success of that franchise has really been tied to Harrison Ford. He's more than likely never doing another of those movies again. You can do a Star Wars movie without Luke, Leia, Han and Chewie, but you really can't do a Indiana Jones movie without .... Indiana Jones.

Very true. It would be like doing a Rocky movie without Sly Stallone.

However, perhaps a movie where Indiana retires while mentoring a new Indiana? One that will not in anyway be pursued in a sequel? He could take on Sean Connery's role from 'The Last Crusade'.

I know...pipe dream...but a day ago if you had asked me whether I thought Lucas would sell his company to Disney....

More on topic: I wouldn't imagine Harrison Ford being opposed to lending his likeness and voice to do a really epic game. I know Indy games (pun?) have been attempted in the past, but now that we have experience from Tomb Raider and Uncharted, I think they could make a really solid Indiana Jones game.

That's amusing, because even a re-release of Grim Fandango would likely fetch pretty great sales. It's been right near top of the GOG community wishlist pretty much since the site launched in 2008. The game itself was released a decade earlier.

I hate to disagree with Shafer, but quite a few other LucasArts titles fill the top of that list too, suggesting that PC gamers are clamoring to buy them again if a licensing deal could be struck.

Kyle!!! No mention of The Force Unleashed?! Mostly given moderate scores by the videogaming press, I found it to be an immensely fun game with solid gameplay and one of the best lightsaber-wielding, Jedi-force powers experiences ever in a videogame. I haven't played the sequel.

For the scope and gameplay mechanics, I think it was one of LucasArts best developed games.

I would love to see a first-person RPG/action hybrid a la Skyrim in the Star Wars universe. Doubt Disney would bank for that.

One of the problems with Force Unleashed is they kept a handful of Storm Troopers as enemies the whole way through. They either needed to have Starkiller defeating 50 Storm Troopers at a time or have him taking out AT-STs at the end of the game in the same way he was taking out Storm Troopers at the beginning of the game. They seemed to miss something in regards to the epic scale of the force with a few storm troopers shooting at you and killing you when you were about to pull a ship out of the sky with the force in 20 more minutes of play.

Kyle!!! No mention of The Force Unleashed?! Mostly given moderate scores by the videogaming press, I found it to be an immensely fun game with solid gameplay and one of the best lightsaber-wielding, Jedi-force powers experiences ever in a videogame. I haven't played the sequel.

For the scope and gameplay mechanics, I think it was one of LucasArts best developed games.

I would love to see a first-person RPG/action hybrid a la Skyrim in the Star Wars universe. Doubt Disney would bank for that.

One of the problems with Force Unleashed is they kept a handful of Storm Troopers as enemies the whole way through. They either needed to have Starkiller defeating 50 Storm Troopers at a time or have him taking out AT-STs at the end of the game in the same way he was taking out Storm Troopers at the beginning of the game. They seemed to miss something in regards to the epic scale of the force with a few storm troopers shooting at you and killing you when you were about to pull a ship out of the sky with the force in 20 more minutes of play.

They had another problem with scale. If you compare Starkiller with any of the Jedi's from the movies, Starkiller comes out OP and makes the movie Jedi's look as dangerous as a mild puff of air.

The thought of unleashing Warren Spector on Lucasarts' IP makes me giddy. That said, Schafer is 100% correct: the best thing about Lucasarts in the golden days of yore was that they *didn't* rely on Lucasfilm IP to make good games. The fact that the culture of design they created also happened to produce some amazing Star Wars/Indy games was basically a happy accident.

Put me in line as one of those people who would be interested in a modernized X-Wing/Tie Fighter series space sim. I've been hoping for that or a new Freespace game for a few years now.

I've got a rather positive outlook on this. Placed in the right hands (i.e. Joss Whedon or JJ Abrams), Eps. VII-IX could become modern masterpieces if they focus on the right themes... I just hope that they don't license away the rights to do always crappy movie tie-in games.

Hmm... Would anyone have a problem with Abrams running both the Star Trek AND Star Wars movie franchises?!

Just release the adventure games on steam with support and compatibility with modern rigs and I'd be happy with that. As cool as it would be to get a modern TIE Fighter I don't think anyone can do justice to the space sim genre anymore.

I think part of it is that the customer base has moved on. I remember when flight sticks weren't just a novelty item, but nowadays? Who even owns one (that still functions, and isn't covered with dust)?

Though IIRC those games played well with the mouse as well.

angrypeon wrote:

Unlike Star Wars, the success of that franchise has really been tied to Harrison Ford. He's more than likely never doing another of those movies again. You can do a Star Wars movie without Luke, Leia, Han and Chewie, but you really can't do a Indiana Jones movie without .... Indiana Jones.

If not for the fourth movie, we'd probably be approaching the horizon right about now where a reboot would be feasible. Granted, that could be terrible, but it could also have been good.

Kyle!!! No mention of The Force Unleashed?! Mostly given moderate scores by the videogaming press, I found it to be an immensely fun game with solid gameplay and one of the best lightsaber-wielding, Jedi-force powers experiences ever in a videogame.

Did you get to the star destroyer scene? Still think it was a fun game?

Quote:

I haven't played the sequel.

Good for you, you're one of the lucky ones.

Quote:

I would love to see a first-person RPG/action hybrid a la Skyrim in the Star Wars universe. Doubt Disney would bank for that.

Hey Disney! All I want are the classic LucasArts adventure games (Maniac Mansion, Day of the Tentacle, Full Throttle, etc) released on Android with updated graphics (optional) and and updated (touch friendly) interface! Make 'em and I WILL BUY!

Kyle Orland / Kyle is the Senior Gaming Editor at Ars Technica, specializing in video game hardware and software. He has journalism and computer science degrees from University of Maryland. He is based in the Washington, DC area.